The Royal Thai Police Office announced that four clashes resulted in one fatality in Bangkok on Jan. 26, the advanced voting day.

According to Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Police Major General Piya Uthayo, reports from each election district indicated that the early voting proceeded smoothly in most upcountry provinces. No clashes were reported despite obstruction at some polling stations.

Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Police Major General Piya Uthayo.

However, in Bangkok, four incidents were reported. A clash between voters and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee protesters at Lat Krabang district resulted in minor injuries; two women assaulted an election district deputy director in Don Muang District; 22 white-shirt activists forced their way into a polling station at Bueng Khum, cutting chains used by the PDRC to close the station gate. The last incident involved a clash between the PDRC protesters and the UDD members in Samut Prakan province, resulting in a shooting that caused the death of Suthin Tharathin, age 52, and injuries to six others.

The spokesperson affirmed that about 90 police officers were present during the fourth incident. He revealed that the chief of police had assigned Police General Ek Angsananon to launch an investigation into the killing.

He added that people who were unable to vote due to obstruction by political protesters should file complaints at any police station. The police would record all complaints and use them to devise a plan to handle the upcoming February 2 elections.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday January 31, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 5).